It was now well on towards three o'clock, and as they had a long forest stretch of at least ten miles before them ere they could touch the banks of the great queen of waters, Roland determined, with the aid of his compass, to strike at once into the beast-trodden pathway by which they had come, and make all haste homewards before the sun should set and darkness envelop the gloomy forest.
"Keep up your heart, Peggy; if your courage and your feet hold out we shall reach the river before dusk."
"I'm not so frightened now," said Peggy; but her lips were very tremulous, and tears stood in her eyes.
"Come, come," she cried, "let us hurry on! Come, Brawn, good dog!"
Brawn leapt up to lick her ear, and taking no thought for the skin of the jaguar, which in more favourable circumstances would have been borne away as a trophy, and proof of Peggy's valour, they now took to the bush in earnest.
Roland looked at his watch.
"Three hours of light and more. Ah! we can do it, if we do not lose our way."
So off they set.
Roland took the lead, rifle in hand, Peggy came next, and brave Brawn brought up the rear.
They were compelled to walk in single file, for the pathways were so narrow in places that two could not have gone abreast.